I'm excited for Chat Blanc!
•●•●•●•●•
I vividly remember the day of Emily's funeral. It was a dark and gloomy day just like the Midnight incident. We all wore black and countless, faceless people all came to give their condolences. I had yet to completely understand the French language, so I could hardly discern what they said.
Mr Agrests hardly spoke a word. Nathalie had to manage everything, holding an expressionless mask. Adrien had broken into huge sobs of grief. Chloe was acting kind for once in her life and tried to comfort him, asking him to stop crying. But it was me who said it's all right to cry since I understood that you need to let it all out after losing someone you love. Thereafter, I did my best to tell him I'm always there when he needs me.
A month after that, Mr Agreste asked for me. Nathalie brought me to a hidden elevator that brought us to an underground floor I didn't know existed.
"There's a way to bring someone to life, " Mr Agreste said. I knew instantly that he meant to bring Emily back to life. The notion would have seemed terrifying. The dead should stay dead- some may say. But I couldn't bear to say Adrien remain so desolated every single day. He claimed to be coping, just so I wouldn't be worried of him. I wish to see him smile genuinely like he used to.
Not only that, I missed her too. I know she couldn't be my actual mom but she was gentle and affectionate. All I have of her were fond memories. If I could prevent someone from feeling the pain I felt when I lost my parents, I though it would be a win-win situation.
I knew I can't bring my parents back to life. But if we could bring back Emily, it wouldn't be so bad.
I was fine with working with Hawkmoth, planning the demise of the city's heroes and even acting like a fake in front of my peers. This is all for Emily. She didn't deserve to leave this Earth so early.
•●•●•●•●•
"今天," Adrien stumbles on his words. "今天是星期四。 (Today is Thursday.)"
"今天是拍全体照的日子。 (Today we take a group photo.)" I exclaim. "Class picture day!"
"All right. There's no need to rub it in, but I'm glad you're excited. You're in a good mood today," Adrien says.
"今天是我死的那一天。(Today is the day I die.)" I say, grinning.
"What's that? I can't understand that."
"It's nothing," I reply, cheekily. We part ways when enter the school. He walks to Nino's side and I rush towards Roe and Juleka.
"Wow, Selene. That's a new hairstyle," Rose says, examining me and my hair tied up for once. "You look cute! You should tie your hair more often!" I flash her a grateful smile but it falls the moment she looks away. It was disappointing that Adrien didn't even mention the change. I tug on my collar nervously. The new ribbon tied around my neck feels suffocating.
"I'm going to be in a photo with Adrien!" Marinette gushes, unaware of my presence.I shake my head. I don't have the time o be irritated right now. This morning, Gabriel alerted me of someone emitting a negative energy and it's up to me inflame it.
"Whatever happens, don't forget to breathe," Alya warns.
"Atleast you know you're going to be in the photo,"Juleka mumbles.
"No Juleka, I'm telling you. You're not jinxed," Rose says. I reach out to put a hand on her arm but think better of it. Of all the potential targets, today it's Juleka- one of my best friends of all people. I know that she claims to be jinxed which prevents anyone to take a photo of her. I understand how dreadful she feels about today, but it's not my job her now.
"We'll do everything we can to make it right this time," Marinette says. "Don't forget to smile."
Juleka still look unsure. I sigh, reaching a decision. I don't want to see my friends so desolated. I embrace her side, squeezing her gently. "Don't worry. It'll be fine." Although she seems to brighten up only slightly, for Juleka, it means she's all better. Maybe I can let this one slide. I refuse to let my best friend get akumatized.
The photographer calls for our class and requests us to take our seat in the front. Chloe goes on to act like her bratty self as I silently visualise duct tape over her mouth. Once the photographer managed to organise our whole class, Chloe only now decided to become a greater nuisance.
"Chloe stop embarrassing yourself!" I hiss as she tries to shove away Juleka from the centre.
"Hey nobody asked you loudmouth," Chloe snaps. "I'm not next to Adrien!"
Neither am I- nor Marinette- but you don't see me running my pothole like a siren.
"I'm sorry, guys. I need to fetch another battery. Nobody move," the photographer announces. I want to groan in frustration with how unnecessarily long this is dragging out. Juleka and Sabrina asked to go to the bathroom as we waited.
Sabrina returned just as the photographer did. I spy Chloe slip into Juleka's spot to my irritation.
"Chloe, could you please, please not make this so complicated?" I ask.
"How did you get here?" Adrien says.
"Who cares? At last, I'm in the right spot," Chloe says.
"I want you to flash your best smiles because this is the last time we're doing this," the photographer says. Wait what? Since when was picture-taking only done once? I was about to object since Juleka hasn't returned. Is he not seeing what an ass Chloe is being?!
"Wait!" Marinette says, but a light flashes as the photographer takes our photo. "Please, sir, we have to redo the photo. Juleka is not in it."
"She's right! It's not fair!" I say.
"Jule-who?" Mr Damocles says, causing my jaw to drop. Who can forget JULEKA?! Especially with the neon purple streak in her hair.
"Mr Damocles, shouldn't we be heading lunch? And aren't you paying the photographer by the hour?" Chloe interrupts with a smirk. My fingers are itching to strangle her!
"Oh yes! No time to retake..." WHAT?! What is is this injustice. Since when were adults so dense and insensitive? I'd understand if Juleka was absent from school but she was just here!
I turn back to Chloe, glaring daggers at her. "Why is it acceptable for you to be an idiot but not for me to point it out?" was what I wanted to say. Instead, what came out is, "You shouldn't have done that!"
"Oh please, I'm not having any of you nagging," Chloe says, sashaying out. That's the last straw. My fist is begging to be introduced to her.
"Selene," Rose calls. "Let's just go and find Juleka."
I whip my head away and stomp back to rose. Instead of going for lunch, we check all the bathrooms Juleka could have visited until we spotted a chair leaning onto a cubicle door. Chloe that witch! As we run over to the cubicle, I here miserable sobs. "Oh, Juleka..."
Rose hurriedly moves the chair away and I open the door to meet a broken-hearted Juleka. She mumbles, "I missed the photo didn't I?"
"Yeah, another one of Chloe's mean tricks."
"Should I expect it to be any different. Nobody ever hears me or sees me. I'm invisible."
"Don't say that Juleka!"
"Forget it. A long as Chloe's in the picture, she'll find a way to keep me out it." Juleka runs out the door. Rose tries to stop her. "Really, Rose. Forget it. Forget me."
"No wait!"
I place an arm on Rose. "I'll talk to her." I blot out the bathroom to chase her.
"Selene." I stop in my tracks when I hear Nathalie's voice in my airpod. "Mr Agreste says the negative energy is getting stronger. The target is located and the time is ripe. Find Juleka Couffaine." No. Dear God. Not Juleka.
"Yes, I'm on it," I say.I run out he school and survey the area until I find her crouching on a bench nearby. I clear my throat.
"Go away, Selene. I don't want to talk right now," Juleka says gruffly. I clench my fists to keep them from trembling. All I wish to do is comfort her- tell her it's all right. The jinx is just a fluke and we could fix this stupid mess together.
I slide onto the bench beside her. "I'm sorry, Juleka. No, you shouldn't be upset about this matter at all. So what if you're jinxed? You can't help it."
"Yeah, you're right... why is it like this?"
"So what if you can't appear in pictures and no one seems to remember you? I mean, I wish you could but you're powerless to change things the way they are now. It's such a trivial matter so, you shouldn't cry over it." Cruel words spill out from my mouth as easily as how river flows, but it didn't mean I'm not hurting at all. "And besides, you said you've been jinxed since you were little. I'm sure you've gotten over it by now."
"I-I'm not," Juleka says, starting to sob. The way she curls up even smaller breaks my heart into a million pieces. I'm sorry, Juleka. This is for Emily.
A familiar butterfly hovers over her and grazes her portable mirror on the back of her glove. I take a step back to let it all unravel. Hawkmoth's sinister voice coerce Juleka's despair. "Reflekta, I am Hawkmoth. From now on, you will be the only one people see. No one will ever ignore you again. However, you must do me a favour in return when the time comes."
"Yes, Hawkmoth," Juleka says, transforming into hopefully, the supervillain who will finally take Ladybug and Chat Noir's miraculous.
Nathalie says in my ear, "Good work. Now on to phase two."
I turn heels and run for cover. I unzip my cling bag and the bane of my existence comes flying out. Grimm says, "Don't you get tired of putting make up on two faces every morning?"
"I hide behind sarcasm because telling you to go screw yourself is rude in most social situations. Now shut up." I roll my eyes.
"Keep rolling your eyes. Maybe you'll find your brain back there."
"I don't have time for this," I say. "Grimm, witching hour!"